Suspension device for containers

ABSTRACT

A suspension device is applied to containers comprising a tubular body ( 10 ) having a side wall ( 11 ) carrying an outer peripheral projection ( 12 ) and an annular upper wall ( 13 ). The device comprises a retaining ring ( 25 ) incorporating an inner radial flange ( 27 ) to be seated onto an upper edge ( 11   a ) of the tubular body ( 10 ), and elastically deformed retaining fingers ( 28 ) that are fitted under and against the outer peripheral projection ( 12 ), in the condition in which the retaining ring ( 25 ) is mounted around the tubular body ( 10 ) and axially retained under said outer peripheral projection ( 12 ), said retaining ring ( 25 ) affixing end portions ( 29   a ) of a suspension handle ( 29 ), that is displaced between a rest position and a raised operative position.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention refers to a suspension device to be applied in the closing of metallic cans or other containers defined by a tubular body with a generally cylindrical side wall of constant or variable diameter. Said tubular body is inferiorly closed by a bottom wall and carries an annular upper wall having an inner edge which defines an upper opening for the container and which is configured to form a closing seat on which is removably seated and axially retained a lid made of plastic or metallic material or any other material compatible with the product to be stored in the container.

PRIOR ART

There are well known from the prior art the containers in the form of a cylindrical can such as, for example, the one-gallon cans utilized to store paints, varnishes and other bulk products, usually of progressive consumption. These cans, dimensioned to contain an amount of product which makes them heavy and of difficult portability, generally require the provision of a suspension device which usually takes the form of a handle in metallic wire, with the ends hingedly retained in respective ears externally affixed to the side wall of the tubular body.

Although the known construction mentioned above results in a reliable suspension device which permits the can or similar container to be provided with the required portability, said device requires operations for producing the metallic ears, for shaping the handles in wire, for welding said ears in opposite regions of the tubular body of the can, as well as for mounting the handle. The operations of welding the ears to the tubular body of the can, as well as mounting the handle to the ears, require special cares to guarantee a reliable fixation of the handle, without perforating the side wall of the tubular body and without damaging the decorative finishing of the side wall, which is generally obtained by a previous operation of lithography. These drawbacks increase the cost of the package.

Besides considerably increasing the cost of the package, said prior art suspension device requires the fixation of the ears to the tubular body and the final mounting of the wire handle to be compulsorily carried out by the package manufacturer, before filling the can with the product to be stored.

Thus, the cans or other similar containers are sent to the filling phase already provided with the lateral ears and the wire handle, which parts project outwardly from the contour of the container, interfering with other containers disposed side by side during shipping and storage operations, increasing the area occupied by said containers and permitting the occurrence of damage, in higher or lower degree, to the side wall finishing of these containers.

Another aspect to be associated with said known solutions is the fact 4 that said suspension devices have only the suspension function, which does not help to improve the relative transversal interlocking between two containers stacked one on top of the other or, optionally, to interact with the container lid, so as to provide, with said lid, a tamper evident seal.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

As a function of said drawbacks of the known solutions, in order to provide a suspension device in cans or other containers of the type which comprises an annular upper wall defining, in its inner edge, a closing seat in which is seated and retained a lid, it is an object of the present invention to provide the tubular body of the container with a suspension device, without requiring operations of welding suspension elements to the tubular body.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a suspension device for said containers, which can be easily applied to the tubular body of the container, before or after the product filling and before or after closing the lid.

It is another object, of the present invention to provide a suspension device, as defined above, which also actuates as a stacking stabilizing element for said containers.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a suspension device, as mentioned above, which can interact with the container lid, so as to define, with said lid, a tamper evident seal.

It is also another object of the present invention to provide a suspension device as mentioned above, which can be associated with a lid to be removed and reclosed several times, by means of simple operations which do not require the use of tools to help opening the lid.

As already mentioned, the suspension device object of the present invention is applied to containers, such as cans, of the type which comprises: a tubular body, which is inferiorly closed and has a side wall provided with an upper edge carrying an outer peripheral projection, and an annular upper wall having an inner edge defining a closing seat on which is seated and axially retained a lid.

According to the invention, the suspension device further comprises a retaining ring to be mounted around the tubular body and internally incorporating, in a single piece, an inner radial flange, to be seated onto the upper edge of the tubular body, and a plurality of retaining fingers that are elastically deformed between an inoperative mounting position, in which they are radially outwardly deformed, by action of the outer peripheral projection upon a mounting downward axial displacement of the retaining ring around the tubular body, over the outer peripheral projection, and an operative rest position, in which said retaining fingers project radially inwardly, so as to be fitted under and against the outer peripheral projection, in the condition in which the retaining ring is mounted around the tubular body and axially retained under said outer peripheral projection, said retaining ring affixing, in angularly spaced apart regions, end portions of at least one suspension handle, that is displaced between a rest position, generally parallel to the plane of the closing seat, and a raised operative position.

The above-defined suspension device complies with one of the objects of the invention, allowing a container, generally in the form of a cylindrical can, to be easily provided with a retaining ring that is simply fitted over the outer peripheral projection of the upper edge of the tubular body of the container and which remains securely and axially retained to the latter, in order to allow the container to be suspended by the handle incorporated in a single piece to the retaining ring.

The construction proposed by the invention allows the retaining ring to be mounted around the tubular body at any time, even after the filling, and the closure of the lid, when the latter does not interact with the retaining ring.

Other advantageous aspects of the present invention will be described ahead, in conjunction with the detailed description of the different embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be described below with reference to the enclosed drawings, given by way of example of embodiments of the present invention and in which:

FIG. 1 represents a partially cut top perspective view of a cylindrical can, without the lid and carrying a retaining ring constructed according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 represents a top plan view of the container, of the retaining ring and of the lid illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 represents a partial vertical cross-sectional view of two stacked containers, taken along line III-III in FIG. 2 with the lower container carrying a lid and a retaining ring and with the upper container being medianly sectioned and associated with respective retaining ring and lid, illustrated in an exploded condition;

FIG. 4 represents an enlarged detail of a left end portion of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 represents an enlarged detail of a right end portion of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 represents a partially cut perspective view of a retaining ring and of a lid that are interconnected, in a single piece, by manually breakable radial bridges and mounted in the tubular body of a container in the form of a cylindrical can;

FIG. 7 represents a top plan view of the retaining ring and of the lid illustrated in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 represents a cross-sectional view of the upper portion of the container illustrated in FIG. 6, taken along line VIII-VIII in FIG. 7 and illustrating the lid, the ring and the container in an exploded condition;

FIGS. 8A and 8B represent enlarged details of the opposite end regions of FIG. 8, but with the lid and the retaining ring mounted to the tubular body of the container, before the first opening of the lid;

FIG. 9 represents a cross-sectional view of the upper portion of the container illustrated in FIG. 6, taken along line IX-IX in FIG. 7 and illustrating the lid and the retaining ring mounted to the tubular body of the container;

FIG. 10 represents a top plan view of the retaining ring and of the lid of a container that are interconnected, in a single piece, by breakable radial bridges, according to another embodiment of the invention, and mounted in the tubular body of a container in the form of a cylindrical can;

FIG. 11 represents a partial vertical cross-sectional view of the upper portion of the container illustrated in FIG. 10, taken along line XI-XI in FIG. 10, and illustrating the lid and the retaining ring mounted to the tubular body of the container; and

FIG. 12 represents a partial vertical cross-sectional view of the upper portion of a container, taken along line XII-XII in FIG. 10, and illustrating the lid provided with a gripping handle in a constructive variant and mounted over the tubular body of a can, whose annular upper wall is formed by deformation of the side wall of the can.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As illustrated in the enclosed drawings, the present suspension device is applied to a container, generally a can, of the type which comprises a tubular body 10, formed in metal sheet, inferiorly closed by a bottom wall and having a side wall 11 provided with an upper edge 11 a which incorporates an outer peripheral projection 12, said tubular body 10 carrying an annular upper wall 13 having an inner edge 13 a that is bent to form a closing seat “S” which, in the illustrated constructions, takes the form of a convex arc.

According to FIGS. 1-11, the annular upper wall 13 presents a peripheral portion 13 b which is double-seamed in the upper edge 11 a of the side wall 11 of the tubular body 10 of the container, said double-seaming being responsible for forming the outer peripheral projection 12.

Further according to the construction illustrated in FIGS. 1-11, the annular upper wall 13 has its upwardly and radially outwardly bent inner edge 13 a defining a tubular rib 14, in whose radially inner portion is defined the closing seat “S” whose cross-section is in the form of a convex arc. In the illustrated example, the tubular rib 14 presents a substantially circular cross-section. However, it should be understood that there is no need for the inner edge 13 a of the annular upper wall 13 to be bent to form a tubular rib 14, being enough that said bending forms a closing seat “S” with the cross-section in a convex arc.

As illustrated in FIG. 12, it is possible to construct the tubular body 10 of the container with an annular upper wall 13 defined by a circumferential radial rib 16 formed by a recess made by deformation of the side wall 11 of the tubular body 10, said circumferential radial rib 16 projecting inwardly of the tubular body 10, under the upper edge 11 a of the side wall 11.

As it can be noted in FIG. 12, the circumferential radial rib 16 further presents an inner edge 13 a configured to define the closing seat “S” in convex arc, preferably circular, whose function will be described ahead. As illustrated in FIG. 12, since the annular upper wall 13 is formed by deformation of the side wall 11 of the tubular body 10, the formation of the outer peripheral projection 12 is carried out by submitting the upper edge 11 a of the side wall 11 of the tubular body 10 to an outwardly, downwardly and inwardly bending, so as to define a tubular rib 17 which may present different, shapes, one of which presenting an oblong format that is parallel to the axis of the container and extending axially downwardly beyond the circumferential radial rib 16, covering the recess which forms the latter.

According to the illustrated constructions, the container is closed by a lid 20 which comprises, in a manner that is well known in the prior art and which is generally made in a single piece of plastic or metallic material, a base portion 21, occupying a median position and which is dimensioned to close the upper opening of the can defined by the closing seat S. To the base portion is incorporated a peripheral portion 22 provided with a circumferential cradle 23 with its cross-section in the form of a concave arc, to be fitted and axially retained in the closing seat S, the lid being further provided with an annular portion 24 projecting radially outwardly from the peripheral portion 22 towards the upper edge 11 a of the side wall 11 of the tubular body 10.

The lid 20 has its peripheral portion 22 presenting a generally cylindrical outer part, in which is formed the radially outward-facing circumferential cradle 23 dimensioned to cooperate with the closing seat “S”, upon seating the lid 20 onto the tubular body 10 of the container.

It should be understood that the lid 20 can be stamped in metal sheet or molded in plastic, such as polypropylene, in different formats and utilizing different constructions to be fitted and retained in the closing seat S of the tubular body 10 of the container. The constructive solution utilized for promoting the fitting and the retention of the lid in the tubular body 10 can present different known forms, without this modifying the characteristics of the suspension device object of the present invention. According to the invention, the suspension device comprises a retaining ring 25, molded in plastic material, such as polypropylene, to be mounted around the tubular body 10 of the container and internally incorporating, in a single piece, a plurality of retaining fingers 28 that are elastically deformed between an inoperative mounting position, in which they are radially outwardly deformed by action of the outer peripheral projection 12, upon the mounting downward axial displacement of the retaining ring 25 around the tubular body 10, over the outer peripheral projection 12, and an operative rest position, in which said retaining fingers 28 project radially inwardly, so as to be fitted under and against the outer peripheral projection 12, in the condition in which the retaining ring 25 is mounted around the tubular body 10 and axially retained under said outer peripheral projection 12.

Further according to the illustrated embodiments, the retaining fingers 28 comprise a lower end 28 a incorporated to the retaining ring 25 and a free upper end 28 b, said retaining fingers 28 projecting radially inwardly and upwardly, in order to have the upper end 28 b seated under and against the outer peripheral projection 12 in the operative rest position of said retaining fingers 28.

The retaining ring 25 further incorporates, in a single piece, an inner radial flange 27 to be seated onto the upper edge 11 a of the tubular body 10, upon the mounting of the retaining ring 25, with the upper end 28 b of the retaining fingers 28 seated under and against the outer peripheral projection 12. Thus, the retaining ring 25 remains axially retained to the tubular body 10, both upwardly and downwardly, with no risk of the retaining ring 25 gravitationally moving along the cylindrical tubular body 10. In the illustrated embodiment, the inner radial flange 27 of the retaining ring 25 is defined by a plurality of inner radial projections 27 a. Besides operating as an element for retaining the retaining ring 25 in the downward direction, the inner annular flange 27 operates as an annular shoe for the seating of another container stacked on top of the first, as better described ahead.

In the construction illustrated in FIGS. 1-5, the retaining ring 25 is defined by a piece that is totally independent of the lid 20 to be applied to the container, and which can be mounted to the latter before or after the closure of the lid 20, i.e., before or after the product filling. This construction of the retaining ring 25 of the lid 20 allows the latter to be constructed in a material that is more appropriate and resistant to the product to be stored. The retaining ring 25 preferably incorporates, also in a single piece and in diametrically opposite regions, end portions 29 a of a suspension handle 29 to be displaced between an inoperative or rest position (as illustrated), in which it remains generally parallel to the plane of the lid 20, and a raised operative position (not illustrated), disposed over the tubular body 10 of the can, allowing it to be easily handled by an user who wishes to carry the can suspended by the handle. It should be understood that all the force applied to the suspension handle 29 by the weight of the can is transferred from the retaining ring 25 to the outer peripheral projection 12 of the tubular body 10, by means of the retaining fingers 28.

Regarding the construction in which the suspension handle 29 defines a single piece with the retaining ring 25, said end portions 29 a of the suspension handle 29 are constructed to be elastically deformable upon the displacement of the suspension handle 29 between its operative and inoperative positions.

FIGS. 1-9 illustrate a construction in which the suspension handle 29 is lodged, when in the rest position, parallel to and immediately above a respective circumferential extension of the upper region of the retaining ring 25, said suspension handle 29 being disposed radially external to the inner flange 27, not interfering with the stacking of the containers and being maintained inside the axial projection of the contour of the container, so as not to interfere with other laterally adjacent containers. FIGS. 10-12 illustrate a construction in which the suspension handle 29 is lodged, when in the rest position, radially internal to the retaining ring 25, in a position defined between the latter and the annular portion 24 of the lid 20 and in a way substantially coplanar to an upper edge 25 a of the retaining ring 25, not interfering with the stacking of the containers or with laterally adjacent containers.

In the constructions illustrated in FIGS. 6-9 and 10-12, the retaining ring 25 and the lid 20 are formed in a single piece and in plastic material. In these constructions, the retaining ring 25 is superiorly attached, in a single piece, to the annular portion 24 of the lid 20 by a plurality of radial bridges 26, which are manually broken upon the upward displacement of the annular portion 24 by action of the user when he moves the lid 20 to upwardly detach it from its seating position in the closing seat S of the tubular body 10. The radial bridges 26 are constructed so as to be adequately ruptured when the annular portion 24 of the lid is submitted to a certain intensity of an upward force to release the lid. In this type of construction, the retaining ring 25 and the radial bridges 26 constitute a tamper evident seal, the single piece, formed by the retaining ring 25 and by the lid 20, being mounted onto the upper edge 11 a of the tubular body 10 after the product filling, making the retaining fingers 28 be locked under the outer peripheral projection 12 and requiring the radial bridges 26 to be broken, on order to open the lid 20 for the first time.

In the construction illustrated in FIGS. 6-9 and 10-12, the radial bridges 26 are disposed according to a plane substantially orthogonal to the axis of the tubular body 10, said radial bridges 26 presenting a radially inner end 26 a incorporated, in a single piece, to a peripheral edge 24 a of the lid 20, and a radially outer end 26 b incorporated, also in a single piece, to the retaining ring 25, the radially outer end 26 b of the radial bridges 26 being attached to the retaining ring 25 in a plurality of angularly spaced apart regions of the circumferential extension of the latter. However, it should be understood that the radial bridges 26 can be disposed on a conical surface inclined in relation to the axis of the tubular body 10.

In the construction illustrated in FIGS. 6-9 and 10-12, the radially outer end 26 b of the radial bridges 26 is attached to the inner radial flange 27 of the retaining ring 25, more specifically to the inner radial projections 27 a which define a constructive form for the inner radial flange 27.

In the construction illustrated in the drawings, the retaining ring 25 has the upper edge 25 a contained in a plane transversal to the axis of the tubular body 10, the inner radial flange 27 being contained in a parallel plane that is slightly recessed in relation to the plane of the upper edge 25 a of the retaining ring 25, so as to define an annular shoe for the seating of the lower edge 10 b of another tubular body 10 on top thereof in a stack of containers, as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5.

In order to facilitate removing the lid 20 from its closing position on the tubular body 10, the base portion 21 of the lid 20 is provided with a small eccentric upper handle 40, having its ends 41 preferably incorporated, in a single piece, to the base portion 21 of the lid 20, in a region adjacent to the peripheral portion 22, said eccentric upper handle 40, when in an operative position, projecting radially and inclinedly upwards and to the center of the lid 20 and having two ends 41, coupled to the base portion 21 of the lid 20, configured to allow the eccentric upper handle 40 to be elastically and easily deformed from its operative position, generally in a rest condition, upwardly inclined, to a retracted position, seated onto the base portion 21 of the lid 20, so as to permit the stacking of the containers in which said handles are applied. Thus, for opening the lid 20, the user needs only to insert his fingers in the interior of the eccentric upper handle 40 and force the lid 20 upwards, first elevating the side of the latter in which is provided the eccentric upper handle.40. The user can also maintain his wrist in a certain way rested on the diametrically opposite region of the lid 20, in order to obtain a progressive opening of the latter, without the risk of pouring the content of the can, in case the content is a liquid stored in a high level, close to the level of the closing seat S.

As illustrated in FIG. 12, the eccentric upper handle 40 can be suppressed and substituted by a recessed region 21 a, adjacent to the peripheral portion 22, said recessed region 21 a being partially covered by an upper wall 21 b formed by the base portion 21 itself and which defines a gripping handle for opening the lid 20.

The function and the operation of the recessed region 21 are the same described above in relation to the eccentric upper handle 40.

While only some possible ways of carrying out the invention have been illustrated herein, it should be understood that alterations can be made in the form and relative arrangement of the elements, without departing from the constructive concept defined in the claims that accompany the present specification. 

1. A suspension device for containers, such as cans of the type comprising: a tubular body having a side wall provided with an upper edge which carries an outer peripheral projection; an annular upper wall having an inner edge which defines a closing seat in which is seated and axially retained a lid, wherein it comprises a retaining ring to be mounted around the tubular body and incorporating, in a single piece, an inner radial flange to be seated onto the upper edge of the tubular body; and a plurality of retaining fingers that are elastically deformed between an inoperative mounting position, in which they are radially outwardly deformed by action of the outer peripheral projection, upon a mounting downward axial displacement the retaining ring around the tubular body over the outer peripheral projection; and an operative rest position, in which said retaining fingers project radially inwardly, so as to be fitted under and against the outer peripheral projection, in the condition in which the retaining ring is mounted around the tubular body and axially retained under said outer peripheral projection, said retaining ring affixing, in angularly spaced apart regions, end portions of at least one suspension handle, that is displaced between a rest position, generally parallel to the plane of the closing seat, and a raised operative position.
 2. The suspension device, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the retaining fingers comprise a lower end incorporated to the retaining ring, and a free upper end, said retaining fingers projecting radially inwardly and upwardly, so as to have the upper end seated under and against the outer peripheral projection in the operative rest position of said retaining fingers.
 3. The suspension device, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the suspension handle has its end portions incorporated, in a single piece, to the retaining ring, said end portions of the suspension handle being elastically deformed upon the displacement of the latter between its operative and inoperative positions.
 4. The suspension device, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the suspension handle is lodged, when in a rest position, radially internal to the retaining ring, between the latter and the lid, in a way substantially coplanar to an upper edge of the retaining ring.
 5. The suspension device, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the suspension handle is disposed, when in a rest condition, in a parallel way and immediately above a respective circumferential extension of the upper region of the retaining ring.
 6. The device, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the inner radial flange of the retaining ring is defined by a plurality of angularly spaced apart inner radial projections.
 7. The suspension device, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the retaining ring has an upper edge contained in a plane that is transversal to the axis of the tubular body, the inner radial flange being contained in a parallel plane that is slightly recessed in relation to the plane which contains the upper edge of the retaining ring, so as to define an annular shoe onto which will be seated the lower edge of another upper tubular body of a container stack.
 8. The suspension device, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the retaining ring is made of plastic material.
 9. The suspension device, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said lid is a single piece made of plastic material, comprising: a base portion; a peripheral portion, cooperating with a closing seat; and an annular portion projecting outwardly from the peripheral portion wherein the retaining ring is superiorly attached, in a single piece, to the annular portion of the lid by a plurality of manually breakable radial bridges.
 10. The suspension device, as set forth in claim 9, wherein the radial bridges are disposed according to a plane substantially orthogonal to the axis of the tubular body, presenting a radially inner end incorporated to the annular portion of the lid, and a radially outer end incorporated to the retaining ring.
 11. The suspension device, as set forth in claim 10, wherein the radially outer end of the radial bridges is attached to the retaining ring in a plurality of angularly spaced apart circumferential extension regions of the latter.
 12. The suspension device, as set forth in claim 10, wherein the annular portion of the lid presents a peripheral edge in which are incorporated the radially inner ends of the radial bridges.
 13. The suspension device, as set forth in claim 10, wherein the inner radial flange of the retaining ring is defined by a plurality of angularly spaced apart radial projections, the radially outer end of the radial bridges being attached to the inner radial projections.
 14. The suspension device, as set forth in claim 9, wherein the base portion of the lid incorporates an eccentric upper handle that is displaced between an operative position, in which it projects radially and inclinedly upwardly and to the center of the lid, and a retracted position, in which it is seated on the base portion.
 15. The device, as set forth in claim 14, wherein the eccentric upper handle has two ends that are incorporated, in a single piece, to the base portion of the lid, in a region thereof adjacent to the peripheral portion.
 16. The device, as set forth in claim 9, wherein the base portion of the lid is provided with a recessed region adjacent to the peripheral portion, said recessed region being partially covered by an upper wall formed by the base portion itself that defines the gripping handle for opening the lid.
 17. The device, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the outer peripheral projection is defined by double-seaming, to the upper edge of the side wall of the tubular body, a peripheral portion of the annular upper wall. 